1. V2.0
10/23/17
MEET REFEREE

2. RULES REGARDING THE REFEREE
ARTICLE 102 – CONDUCT AND OFFICIATING OF ALL
SWIMMING COMPETITION
* – REFEREE
.1 – "SHALL HAVE FULL AUTHORITY OVER ALL OFFICIALS AND
SHALL ASSIGN AND INSTRUCT THEM; SHALL ENFORCE ALL
APPLICABLE RULES AND SHALL DECIDE ALL QUESTIONS
RELATING TO THE ACTUAL CONDUCT OF THE MEET, THE FINAL
SETTLEMENT OF WHICH IS NOT OTHERWISE ASSIGNED BY SAID
RULES; CAN OVERRIDE ANY MEET OFFICIAL ON A POINT OF RULE
INTERPRETATION, OR ON A JUDGMENT DECISION PERTAINING TO
AN ACTION WHICH THE REFEREE HAS PERSONALLY OBSERVED;
SHALL ALSO DISQUALIFY A SWIMMER(S) FOR ANY VIOLATIONS OF THE RULES THAT THE REFEREE PERSONALLY OBSERVES …….. .
* – PROTESTS
.1 – "PROTESTS AGAINST THE JUDGMENT DECISIONS OF
STARTERS, STROKE, TURN, PLACE AND RELAY TAKE-OFF
JUDGES CAN ONLY BE CONSIDERED BY THE REFEREE AND THE
REFEREE’S DECISION SHALL BE FINAL.
* – CHANGE OF PROGRAM AND POSTPONEMENT

3. QUALITIES OF A “GOOD” REFEREE
CALM
ALERT
DELEGATOR
KNOWLEDGEABLE
COMMUNICATOR
EXPERIENCIED
CONFIDENT
TEAM PLAYER
PROFESSIONAL
PROACTIVE
INTERPERSONALLY SKILLED
FAIR

4. CONSIDER YOUR PRESENCE
VISUAL
LEGAL
PSYCHOLOGICAL
EMOTIONAL
PHYSICAL
TACTICAL
STRATEGIC
CONSIDER YOUR PRESENCE

5. THE ART OF REFEREEING (LEVELS OF MEETS)
REGIONAL
LSC
LSC CHAMPIONSHIPS
SECTIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Most of the procedures and problems are the same.
All deserve full attention and total quality effort.

6. THE ART OF REFEREEING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
MEET REFEREE
TOP OFFICIAL AT THE MEET, TEAM LEADER
OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE MEET
ADMIN REFEREE
SUPERVISES AND DIRECTS THE ‘DRY-DECK’
TAKES CARE OF THE DETAILS
DECK REFEREE
SUPERVISES AND DIRECTS
THE ‘WET-DECK’
RUNS THE SESSION
Ensure fair and equitable competition for all swimmers!

7. THE ART OF REFEREEING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
MEET REFEREE
ASSIST MEET DIRECTOR IN PRE-MEET PLANNING
RECRUITING AND ASSIGNING OFFICIALS FOR THE MEET
CONDUCT OFFICIALS/COACHES MEETINGS
SUPERVISE OFFICIALS TEAM
MAKE FINAL DECISIONS REGARDING INTERPRETATION/APPLICATION OF THE RULES
ENSURE SAFETY

8. THE ART OF REFEREEING PLANNING
WORK WITH THE MEET DIRECTOR
START EARLY, KEEP IN TOUCH
REVIEW DRAFT MEET INFO
BE PROACTIVE, THINK AHEAD
LOOK FOR PROBLEMS, RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS
DETERMINE STAFFING REQUIREMENTS
DEPENDS ON LEVEL OF MEET AND VENUE

9. The Art of Refereeing - PREPARE
WORK WITH THE HOST TEAM CHAIR
ASSIGN AVAILABLE OFFICIALS, APPROVE SCHEDULE
WORK WITH THE MEET DIRECTOR
REVIEW FINAL MEET INVITATION
REVIEW SITE PREPARATION (CHECKLISTS)
REVIEW ENTRIES, TIME LINES – RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS
PREPARE MEET REFEREE NOTEBOOK
REVIEW RULES AND POLICIES
Have a Meet File Box with all the forms you need
INSPECT VENUE
CONDUCT COACHES MEETING
CONDUCT PRE-SESSION OFFICIALS MEETINGS

10. THE ART OF REFEREEING COACHES MEETING
INTRODUCE KEY OFFICIALS
FACILITY LAYOUT
VENUE RULES
MEET INVITATION CHANGES
TIMELINES
WARM-UP PROCEDURES
WARM-UP / COOL-DOWN PROCEDURES
HEAT SHEETS
RELAY CARDS
SCRATCHES
POSITIVE CHECK-IN PROCEDURES
START PROCEDURES
FINALS PROCEDURES
TIME TRIALS
PROTESTS / COMPLAINTS / MEET JURY
DECORUM
MEET RESULTS
MEET EVALUATION FORM
WHO TO GO TO FOR INFORMATION
HOSPITALITY
QUESTIONS
Always hold a coaches meeting before every meet!

11. THE ART OF REFEREEING OFFICIALS MEETING
1-hour prior to each session
All officials (for at least the first part)
Build the ‘Team’
TIMING ADJUSTMENTS (if present)
RULES DISCUSSION
(CAREFUL OF THE ‘RULE DU JOUR’)
PREVIOUS PROBLEMS
UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
ANNOUNCEMENTS, TRAINING
APPRENTICES
UNIFORM, APPEARANCE (if needed)
FINAL ASSIGNMENTS (BALANCE THE DECK)
OVERVIEW (TIMELINE)
INSTRUCTIONS TO
LEADERSHIP
DECK PROTOCOL / ROTATION
JURISDICTIONS
DQ PROCESSING
RADIO PROTOCOL

12. THE ART OF REFEREEING EXECUTE
SUPERVISE WARM-UPS
USA SWIMMING/LSC POLICY
NO MARSHALS – NO SWIMMING!
WALK THE DECK
TALK WITH COACHES, SWIMMERS, AND OFFICIALS
SENSE PROBLEMS, BUILD RESPECT AND ‘TEAM’
WORK WITH ADMIN REFEREE / DECK REFEREE
DELEGATE (AUTHORITY, NOT RESPONSIBILITY), SUPPORT
WORK WITH ‘WET-DECK’ OFFICIALS
MONITOR POSITION, ALERTNESS, CALLS
WORK WITH ‘DRY-DECK’ OFFICIALS
MONITOR FLOW OF DATA, DECISIONS, TIMELINESS OF RESULTS

13. THE ART OF REFEREEING EXECUTE
WORK WITH COACHES, SWIMMERS, PARENTS
KEEP THEM INFORMED
LISTEN, ANSWER QUESTIONS, GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
TAKE CONFLICT OFF DECK
WORK WITH ANNOUNCER
DISCUSS RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS,
COORDINATE ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORK WITH THE MEET DIRECTOR
CONTROL THE VENUE
SOLVE PROBLEMS
DECIDE PROTESTS
CONDUCT MEET JURIES

14. THE ART OF REFEREEING MEET JURY
COORDINATE WITH MEET DIRECTOR TO APPOINT MEET JURY
POOL (COACHES, OFFICIALS, SWIMMERS) PRIOR TO BEGINNING OF MEET
WHEN TO USE MEET JURY
WRITTEN PROTEST
MEET REFEREE DISCRETION
DETERMINE JURY MEMBERS
DETERMINE MEETING LOCATION
GATHER INFORMATION AND WITNESSES
PRESENT QUESTION AND EXPLAIN APPROPRIATE RULES
ANSWER QUESTIONS, PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND INSTRUCTIONS
ALLOW DELIBERATION
ANNOUNCE DECISION

15. THE ART OF REFEREEING EXECUTE
BE CAREFUL OF SETTING PRECEDENTS WITH EARLY DECISIONS
DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS OR CORRECT
MISTAKES
TEACH, PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM
SAY ‘THANK-YOU’ TO EVERYONE
CONDUCT SELF-EVALUATION
Always carry a rule book & Meet Info with you!

16. IF IT ALL GOES ACCORDING TO PLAN…